Reps. Davis, Rush plan summit on urban violence

WASHINGTON – Three Illinois lawmakers joined other members of the Congressional Black Caucus today in announcing a summit on urban violence July 25-26 at Chicago State University.

Rep. Bobby Rush, a Chicago Democrat, spoke at a morning news conference in the Capitol Visitors Center, unveiling plans for the national summit, which is expected to draw participants from across the country.

The event, open to the public, will begin the evening of July 25 and take up the entire day on July 26, Rush said. It will be held at the 6,000-seat Jones Convocation Center, 9501 S. King Dr.

Also attending the press conference were fellow Illinois Democratic Reps. Danny Davis, from Chicago, and Robin Kelly, from Matteson, as well as a handful of African-American Democratic House members from other states.

Davis, in an interview, said Gov. Pat Quinn, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Department officials would be invited to attend, along with federal officials, leaders of national organizations, psychiatrists and local gang leaders.

“We’re trying to take a comprehensive approach,” Davis said, “recognizing there’s no one panacea.”

Davis said he believed that he and Rush represent congressional districts with the largest concentration of gun violence in the Chicago area.

Talking about the reasons for the spate of violence that has hit Chicago hard this year and last, Rush pointed to the dismantling of public housing projects. He said the “forced migration” of 20,000 families had led to “unintended consequences” when they relocated to other communities throughout the city.

Davis cited poverty, unemployment and the loss of good-paying industrial jobs as triggers for the spike in shootings. “My district alone has probably lost more than 200,000 good-paying, industrial jobs over the last 40 or 50 years,” he said.

Rush said the summit was being spearheaded by the three Democratic House members from Illinois and the Congressional Black Caucus.

“This is an initiative that emerges out of the angst and the anger and the pain that’s being occasioned on our constituents,” Rush said.